Textbook festival, marking the distribution of free textbooks among school and madrasa students, was celebrated across the country yesterday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the distribution of free textbooks on December 24. Distribution of textbooks has assumed the shape of a yearly festival in our country in recent years. Students, their guardians and teachers eagerly wait for the observance of the festival on the first day of an academic year. Textbook distribution has become a matter of jubilation for young learners. They consider it as the New Year’s gift.  

Since 2009, the ministry of education has shown its ability to give free new books to the hands of the students on time and for this it certainly deserves praise. Just in the beginning of the New Year getting new books in the new class means more to the school children. But beyond this distribution of books, the country’s overall status of education is still not up to the mark. Because of poverty, hundreds and thousands of families, especially in the rural areas, could not send their children to schools that lack in quality teachers as well as adequate infrastructure. In many schools including those located in urban areas there is no science laboratory.

However, even if some families become able to send their children to schools, dire economic straits force them to leave the place. As a result the country is lagging behind in achieving cent per cent literacy and the needed development. All textbooks from class six to eight should be of good quality.

Mistakes and distortion of facts should not occur in school textbooks. All concerned connected with printing and distribution of textbooks should be alert. Any kind of lapse in this regard will take a toll on the learning process. The ministry of education and the education department should be watchful. Even some years ago, distributing free textbooks to all school students seemed a monumental and impossible task. It is still a gigantic task. But with the necessary will and commitment, this success has become possible.